Tents are one of the most critical pieces of gear for backcountry travel. Backpacker’s experts evaluate the best tents on the market every year—whether your style is ultralight, car camping, or mountaineering, these shelters will give you safety from the storm.
Tents are one of the most critical pieces of gear for backcountry travel. Backpacker’s experts evaluate the best tents on the market every year—whether your style is ultralight, car camping, or mountaineering, these shelters will give you safety from the storm.
We’ve long loved the livability (and affordability) of this iconic double-wall two-person dome tent, which won our 2010 Editors’ Choice Gold Award. This spring, a 10-ounce weight reduction and improved ventilation make a good thing even better.
This two-person tent’s innovative shape provides outstanding headroom and unobstructed views.
This freestanding two-person tent handles the rowdiest three-season storms, making it ideal for hikers who want maximum protection with minimum weight.
From ultralight to ultra bomber these six tents will keep you outside all winter long.
Roomy, strong, and sturdy—it’s everything we want in a foul-weather home away from home.
It shaves pounds (!) off your heavy winter kit.
Get a summer tent and a winter tent for the price of just one.
Get legit winter protection for a trio of campers at a three-season price.
It handles all but the worst of winter without weight or price penalties.
Check out gwens1975's author page.
This durable tent delivers a near-perfect balance between weight savings and space.
At $50 less than the nearest competitor, this tent has a killer value with smart storage solutions.
A large vestibule gets you above-average livability with the MSR Elixir 2.
This tent offers great storm protection, maximum ventilation, and packs small.
This two-person palace offers the best livability of the bunch with the most floor space and headroom.
With lightweight materials and short, 15.5 inch pole sections, the Microlight is the ounce-counters choice.
Innovative fabric eliminates drippy condensation, the bane of singlewall mountain tents.
Ultra light Rab Silwing shelter is a great way for two to stay protected.
A splurge of a tent and worth every penny.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
A two-person, freestanding tent that can handle any storm.
A look back at the tents we've loved for years are still at the top of their class.
Reinforced guyout points deliver above-average durability, and an optional mesh net enhances protection in buggy areas.
Solo hikers get a near-perfect balance between livability and weight savings.
This freestanding, double-walled featherweight pitches fast, packs tiny, and withstands the worst three-season storms.
Starlight meets lightweight in this view-friendly tent.
It’s the perfect shelter for couples who want a superlight tent with traditional freestanding, two-door performance.
Enjoy the best of indoor/outdoor living.
An unconventional design delivers comfort and protection for even the tallest campers—with no weight penalty.
This shelter disappears in your pack—like any good bivy—but tent-like upgrades make it way more livable than most.
This non-freestanding shelter blends the best features of tents and tarps, offering bug protection and a ballroom-size vestibule for about a pound per person.
Alpine storms can’t shake this four-season shelter. It’s no ultralight, but the strength-to-weight ratio is hard to beat.
Amazing features for the weight: Even tall folks can stretch out in this 96-inch-long dome (the longest in our test), and the giant vestibule offers welcome shelter in prolonged storms.
It’s strong enough to handle wintry conditions, but light enough to carry all year.
It’s one of the lightest three-person tents we've used, yet it has two doors and headroom.
This three-season dome saves weight and money.
This freestanding shelter fits a whole family—on a family budget. But space is best for parents with young kids, not teens.
As luxurious as a portable shade tree and open to welcome breezes, it offers cool refuge for four in hot conditions.
An easy-to-pitch tarp
A dependable, year-round shelter from Eastern Mountain Sports.
Find the right shelter for every budget and trip.
Kick back with luxe gear for car and boat trips.
Camp in comfort with this spacious and weatherproof tent from Sierra Designs.
This is the lightest two-person shelter on the market that offers big-storm and bug protection for less than $300.
Score a tent that has it all: low weight and impressive durability, plus ample living space and solid storm protection.
A sturdy shelter that's under five pounds.
Double up in these two-person tents.
It's not often that the lightest shelter in our test is also the cheapest and biggest.
Comfy for three (or spacious for two!), these three-person tents are backcountry ready.
Check out Kelly Bastone's author page.
Bugout lets you congregate for blissfully insect-free meals and card games.
Few four-person tents best this blend of livability, low weight, and reasonable cost.
This versatile, two-person shelter handles high-altitude summers and winters with equal aplomb.
If low weight is your prime tent priority, put this shelter at the top of your shopping list.
A tent that is ideal for regions that see plenty of rain and wintry weather year-round.
The perennial BACKPACKER favorite gets an upgrade with better ventilation.
A long drip line and spacious headroom let's you enjoy the inside, and the outside, no matter the elements.
A low-weight, low-cost two-person, freestanding tent
An affordable two-person tent that can handle real weather.
A 96-inch-long, two-person tents suits every height.
Lightweight, but sturdy tents for the solo camper.
Deluxe features and headroom for a relatively low weight.
A lightweight tent that doesn't skimp on weather protection.
A freestanding tent that tarp lovers will love.
A lightweight tent that can handle 30-mph windstorms...and kids.
Whether you seek maximum storm protection, minimum weight, or highest value, we've found your perfect shelter.
Check out these four two-person tents, all under $300 and 5 pounds.
68-denier ripstop polyester on the canopy and fly make this tent a burly one.
A tent that can handle any and all weather conditions.
The First Ascent Stargazer is a highly livable shelter for backpackers who spend tons of time in wet weather.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
If low weight is your prime tent priority, put this shelter at the top of your shopping list.
If low weight is your prime tent priority, put this shelter at the top of your shopping list.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
If low weight is your prime tent priority, put this shelter at the top of your shopping list.